Although this blog is primarily about my work in cybercrime, I thought it would be nice to let you get a peek at the life of a writer, my likes and dislikes, my trips, my family and friends, and more.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Monday, April 20, 2015

True Crime Online Newsletter - Apri 20, 2015

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Denver teacher's 'I wish my teacher knew' assignment goes viralhttp://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2015/04/17/Denver-teachers-I-wish-my-teacher-knew-assignment-goes-viral/4401429297119/?spt=sec&or=onA Denver teacher's assignment asking third grade students to write down things "I wish my teacher knew" went viral when she shared some of the responses. Kyle Shwartz, who has been teaching at Doull Elementary in Denver for three years, said she designed the assignment as a trust-building exercise for her class. "As a new teacher, I struggled to understand the reality of my students' lives and how to best support them. I just felt like there was something I didn't know about my students," Shwartz told ABC News. Shwartz said students were told to write a sentence starting with, "I wish my teacher knew," and they were given the option of turning the note cards in anonymously. "I let students determine if they would like to answer anonymously," she said. "I have found that most students are not only willing to include their name, but also enjoy sharing with the class. Even when what my students are sharing is sensitive in nature, most students want their classmates to know." The assignment went viral when Shwartz started sharing some of the answers on Twitter with the hashtag "#IwishMyTeacherKnew."

(DISCLAIMER: The following news items were found on the web and were not written or endorsed by WHO@; they are for informational purposes only)

New Study says that Cyber-Stalkers are Addicts - 04/20/15http://www.mytechbits.com/new-study-says-that-cyber-stalkers-are-addicts/981709/A new study has revealed that most internet based stalkers may be internet addicts who have low interpersonal skills and are not in touch with other people. The National Center for Cyberstalking Research says that these Cyber-stalkers fail to establish relationships; therefore they concentrate on virtual people. Psychologist Dr Short, one of the co-authors of the research, says that internet addiction can lead to cyber-stalking and is also an evidence of the failure of the subject to maintain relationships in the real world.

Deputies seek man accused of cyberstalking - 04/18/15http://www.ksla.com/story/28839150/deputies-seek-man-accused-of-cyberstalkingCaddo Parish deputies are looking for a man accused of making terrorizing threats to his estranged wife. Deputies say 26-year-old Bryce Deangelo Hill, who has a history of domestic violence, made threats against the woman and a small child by sending text messages to the woman's phone.

Waterloo region kids involved in child porn investigation - 04/18/15http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/04/18/waterloo-region-kids-involved-in-child-porn-investigation.htmlCellphones. iPads. Nintendo DS systems. They’re just a few of the tools police say elementary school children, some as young as 12 and 13, were using to allegedly take and distribute nude photos since last fall in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Students in Grades 7 and 8 are now under investigation from Waterloo Regional Police for allegedly being in possession of child pornography and could face charges, according to spokesperson Alana Holtom.

Instagram turns strict against pornography and online harassment - 04/18/15http://www.techienews.co.uk/9728324/instagram-turns-strict-pornography-online-harassment/Photo sharing service Instagram has rolled out a significant update to its community guidelines to take on online harassment and pornography. The updated guidelines now clearly detail content which is allowed or banned by the social network. While Instagram allows for posting of breastfeeding and photos of nude paintings and sculptures, it bans more sexually explicit content. The company said it may also remove images that show nude or partially nude children for safety reasons.

School board member accused of cyber-bullying - 04/17/15http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20150417/NEWS/150419775/12982/NEWSLucerne Valley Unified School District board member Dawn Turnbull refused to step down after a series of controversial Facebook posts prompted calls for her resignation and a formal censure by the governing board this week. Turnbull has been outspoken since first being elected to the board in 2010, vigorously stating her opinions and sometimes sharing details of her family and personal life during public meetings. Her relationships with fellow board members have slowly deteriorated. She retained her seat when she was one of three board incumbents to run unopposed last fall, but she became the target of a community recall petition effort ahead of this week's censure.

Judge imprisons cyberbully for six years, gives him 20 years to pay victim surcharge - 04/16/15http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/0417-stalkerRobert James Campbell was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison for shredding the reputations of targets around the world in what an Ottawa judge described as an obsessive, 13-year online campaign of fear. Some of his victims who sat in on the hearing had told the court that he had them living in fear. One victim detailed hateful harassment that turned his world upside down, and another remains so unnerved he’s thinking of uprooting his family and leaving Ottawa for good.

Teens at risk of stalking as images used on porn sites - 04/16/15http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/teens-at-risk-of-stalking-as-images-used-on-porn-sites-324190.htmlYoung people could be leaving themselves open to online and real-life stalkers because of how innocuous photographs are being used in internet porn galleries. Childwatch.ie has published a report showing how information associated with photographs uploaded onto social media by teenagers can allow people to trace them back to their online social media accounts ­ and even their home addresses.

Living in 'Law Limbo' as the Target of Stalking Trolls? - I Should Know - 04/16/15http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/nicola-brookes/trolling-online-abuse_b_6942612.htmlI don't like using the word 'victim', it implies I accept and concede to what is being done to me - I don't. Criticised for taking my online abuse case as far as the High Court to reveal identities. Unfairly accused of 'trying to stop free speech' by a majority who did not know the truth or facts of my case. Free speech? No, that was not what my case was about. Glad it caused debate, raised serious questions, but my case was based on current defined criminal offences.

After GamerGate, Congress Is Grappling With Online Abuse - 04/15/15http://www.buzzfeed.com/hamzashaban/after-gamergate-congress-is-grappling-with-online-abuse#.cfZaa5V1ADays after a California judge sentenced Kevin Bollaert to 18 years in prison for operating a revenge porn website, and months after GamerGate exposed the repeated, unchecked abuse some women receive online, about 100 people from a coalition of women’s groups convened on Capitol Hill today to brief Congress on cyberstalking and online threats.

Cyber-bullying prompts parent to file police report - 04/15/15http://www.ketv.com/news/cyberbullying-prompts-parent-to-file-police-report/32391182Another group of cyber bullies targeted a local student, leading to that person's parent filing a police report. Experts said it’s an ongoing, widespread problem across the area and country, but there are initiatives focused on preventing the online problem. "There's no doubt that technology is fundamentally disrupting education, but it's not all bad," Common Sense Media regional manager Jeremy Nielsen said. Nielsen's role with Omaha Public Schools is fostering positive things in a digital world.

Sulphur man arrested for cyberstalking - 04/15/15http://www.kplctv.com/story/28812059/sulphur-man-arrested-for-cyberstalkingA Sulphur man was arrested on Tuesday on a couple of charges, including cyber stalking. Deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a report from a woman who said she received numerous harassing and intimidating text messages and phone calls from 28-year-old Christopher Istre III.

About Me

I'm a cyber crime expert and author of 8 books, soon to be 9! Although writing is my passion, cyber crime pays the bills. I give online safety lectures worldwide to students from 4th grade on up through college/university, as well as providing law enforcement training and speaking at various conferences as keynote.